WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF SOCCER?

I started playing on the street with my boys in downtown Frankfurt in the area where I grew up.

WHO WAS YOUR SOCCER HERO GROWING UP?

I never had a soccer hero. I always played for fun so I never looked up to anybody.

DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE SUITING UP FOR THE U.S.

I think the whole team and the whole country met me with open arms and made me feel at home.

WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST ADMIRE IN A SOCCER PLAYER?

[No answer]

WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST DISLIKE IN AN OPPONENT?

[No answer]

WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR SOCCER SUCCESS?

When I was younger I played for fun a lot of the time. When I made my first step in Frankfurt to the big team in Frankfurt I realized I had the talent and I could make it.

WHAT IS ONE SOCCER SKILL YOU WANT TO IMPROVE?

Taking care of my body. It is important when you get older, and you have to be careful.

WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DEVELOPMENT?

My wife and one of my old coaches, Friedhelm Funkel.

WHO IS YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND IN THE GAME?

I have some close friends. Some from Schalke, some from the U.S. men’s national team.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SOCCER ACHIEVEMENT?

I would say before it was to score in the Champions League but now it was to play in the World Cup and score in the World Cup against Portugal.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SOCCER DISAPPOINTMENT?

Injuries. If you have big injuries you have to come back and that’s always tough.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU LEARNED FROM THE GAME?

To never give up. You always have a chance to come back. All my years where I play now I can say this is true. When you never give up you can make dreams really true.

WHO ARE THE MOST TALENTED TEAMMATES YOU HAVE PLAYED ALONGSIDE?

I’ve played with a lot of young kids like Mesut Ozil and Julian Draxler. Julian Green, of the U.S. national team—he’s a big talent.

WHO ARE THE TOUGHEST OPPONENTS YOU HAVE LINED UP AGAINST?

I had a lot of time and fun on the pitch against Mark Van Bommel. He was a tough guy but it was a lot of fun.

IF YOU WEREN'T A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

I think I would be working for a sports agency or something like that.

WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS IN THE GAME?

I try to give 100 percent for every game, so if you lose you lose. It’s a game. I feel like I always give everything to this game. Sometimes you lose the game. I want to go to sleep at night knowing I gave everything to win.